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In late October 2024, the environment was completely distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, reflective residents could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – but they could still see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law held significance. A nation headed by a honorable and decent leader, notwithstanding his older age and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we live in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into transport, at times denied due process. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The president is targeting his opponents or supposed enemies and requesting federal prosecutors transfer a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are being sent into American cities with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250^th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in this country.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.

Nevertheless, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Even after his highly troubling initial presidency and following the cautions associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the current reality are, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And suppose that period becomes an prolonged era, because there is no one to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is essential, possibly for national security reasons?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections the coming year which might create a new balance of power, should Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, such as lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road to recovery precisely as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.

We see countless citizens demonstrating in the streets across municipalities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that awakening and sees it happening now. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to agree to military mandates they report only authorized information.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists inactive until some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The contact I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always